October 15, 2025 – Following the Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s (PID) release of the 2026 Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Rates, Senator Vincent Hughes, state Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, shared this statement:
“Healthcare is about to get more expensive and it’s because Republicans have failed to extend the enhanced premium tax credits.
“With the release of the PID 2026 ACA rates, we see in black and white what we’ve known for a long time. Healthcare is about to get more expensive and it’s because Republicans have failed to act. Prices for Pennie plans will go up on average 21.5%. And with enhanced premium tax credits expiring at the end of this year, people will have to bear the full brunt of these increases. Some may see their monthly payments quadruple. Others may give up coverage completely because they cannot afford it.
“Healthcare should be affordable and accessible. The United States is the richest country in the world, yet Republicans have no will to support Pennsylvanians and Americans who are living paycheck to check, juggling bills, and have no room in their budget for healthcare to get even more expensive.
“I encourage my state Senate Republican colleagues to speak up. Call on you Congressional counterparts and tell them to put the people first. Take action to bring costs down instead of actively choosing to make life more expensive for people.”